Suspect arrested after student stabbed at northern Arizona high school

FORT DEFIANCE, AZ (AZFamily) — A student is hospitalized and a suspect has been arrested after a stabbing at a northern Arizona high school.

It happened Friday morning at Window Rock High School in Fort Defiance. It’s in the Navajo Nation, near the New Mexico border.

In a statement posted on social media, district Superintendent Dr. Shannon Goodsell said a teenage boy was stabbed during a fight with another student in the boys’ restroom. The current condition of the injured student is unknown.

The superintendent added that the suspect was in custody awaiting formal charges and was also expected to be interviewed “in accordance with school district policy.”

Police are investigating after a student was stabbed Friday morning at Window Rock High School... — Police are investigating after a student was stabbed Friday morning at Window Rock High School in Fort Defiance.(Navajo Police Department)

The school has been placed on a moderate lockdown which will continue until the end of the school day. Police say there are no active threats and parents can remove their children from school for the day if they wish.

The department added that this incident is unrelated to recent threats at the school. Further information was not immediately available.

See the superintendent’s full statement below:

Unfortunately, an aggressive act occurred on 09/27/24 at Window Rock High School during an altercation between students in the boy’s restroom. The student who engaged in the aggressive act was apprehended and is currently in NNPD custody, awaiting formal charges. The student is also subject to WRUSD due process hearings in accordance with school district policy. The injured student was transported to the hospital and his medical needs were taken care of.

Window Rock Unified School District treats all acts of violence or assault against a student or staff member as seriously as we take pride in providing a safe learning environment for students. We would like to especially thank the NNPD and all first responders for their immediate response to the WRHS. When we raised the alarm, they arrived quickly and in force to ensure the safety of all students. Excellent work!

Window Rock High School diligently followed all safety procedures and protocols once the incident was discovered. At the end of the school day, all affected members of the security team, school administration and NNPD will debrief the incident describing the security processes, procedures and protocols followed and discuss ways to improve the actions taken today.

WRHS would also like to thank our students, their patience and assistance was excellent today as they assisted the NNPD with their investigations which led to a positive outcome resulting from a serious incident. Today our students showed the true meaning of Scout Pride! Thank you, parents, for your patience and understanding while the NNPD conducted its investigations which led to the conclusion of today’s events.

As Superintendent of Window Rock Unified School District, I am constantly reminded of how AWESOME our students and staff are at handling difficult situations. The way they handled it today made me very proud. Come on scouts!

Ahxehee’

Dr. Shannon Goodsell

Superintendent of Schools

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